Charge forming mechanism



Nov. 2, 1937. P. MANISCALCO CHARGE FORMING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 28, 1936 .Ui md I. II

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CHARGE FORMING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 28, 1936 s Shee ts-Sheet s J far/easy Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE cannon romume MECHANISM Pietro Manls'calco, Toledo, Ohio Application August 28, 193s, Serial No. 98,295 15 Claims. (01. 123-121) This invention relates to a new and improved charge forming mechanism.

The invention presented in this application' is an improvement over that shown in my prior ap- 5 plication for Semi-convertible fuel oil engine, Se-

rial No. 44,239, filed October 9, 1935.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an internal combustion engine which is particularly adapted for use in automobiles, and which is arranged to be operated with heavy liquid hydrocarbon fuel, such as crude oil, and also with a lighter hydrocarbon fuel, such as gasoline, whereby the gasoline may be used as "a priming fluid for the heavier oil, and may also be used alone to operate the engine; and whereby the engine is furthermore adapted to utilize aicohol as a fuel, either with or without the gasoline and/or the fuel oil. I

Another object is to provide such an engine with suitable mechanism whereby the exhaust gas is utilized to first preheat and then to vaporize the fuel oil, and is thereafter furthermore utilized to preheat the oil fuel mixture and likewise the gasoline fuel mixture, before either mixture enters the precompressing means.

A further object is to provide such an engine which comprises double fuel feeding means both provided with valve control means and wherein said control means are interconnected, so that the fuel supply thru the two feed lines can be controlled by one operating means, like the usual control rod leading to the customary foot pedal used in the modern automobile.

A still further object is to provide such an engine which comprises control means whereby the feeding of the lighter fuel will be stopped and of the heavier fuel will be started when the mechanisin is sufiiciently heated to vaporize the latter, and which also comprises link means for connecting the two valve control means, whereby to control the feeding of the two fuels together, as by the customary operating means now used for controlling the feeding of gasoline fuel in automobiles.

-These and various other objects and advantages are attained with this invention, as will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein the invention is shown in its preferred form of construction, it being understood that various other forms and modifications may be adopted for carrying out the objects and purposes of this invention.

- In the drawings:

' Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of an engine embodying this invention in its preferred form Q of construction, with parts broken away and in section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of this invention parts being broken away and in section.

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof, with parts broken away to show the oil vaporizing and preheating means. In the drawings this invention is illustrated in its preferred form of construction, embodied in an internal combustion'engine adapted to utilize as its fuel either light or heavy liquid hydrocarbon, and also alcohol, so that fuels may be used together or separately, as may be found advantageous 'under different conditions. This construction comprises a combustion cylinder 6 containing a piston I therein, and a precompressing cylinder 8 containing a piston 9 therein and wherein the fuel mixture is compressed and preheated. A storage chamber l operatively connects the two cylinders adapted to store and convey the required amount of precompressed fuel mixture from cylinder 8 to cylinder 6 at proper temperature and pressure, to provide a full power stroke of piston 1. Cooling jackets II are provided around the two cylinders-and communicate with a cooling jacket l2 provided around storage chamber I0, while a-hot water return pipe 13 conducts the hot water to a suitable radiator, a suitable inlet for the water to the jacket being similarly provided.

A carburetor l has the gasoline fuel conveyed thereto thru a supply line l6,- and has air conveyed thereto thru an intake and filter means II. The carburetor is connected by a neck l8 with the intake end IQ of manifold 20. A control valve 2| is provided in neck l8 and is operated by a lever 22. From intake end I9 the premixed fuel charge passes into diverging intake branches 23 of the manifold, flowing therefrom into the entrance chambers 24 provided at the upper ends of cylinders 8. A valve element 25 closes the valve seat at the upper end of cylinder 8 and is movable to admit the fuel mixture from chamber 24 to said cylinder.

The means provided for operating these valves includes a spring 26 on the outer end of each valve stem 21 to urge the valve to its closed posistorage chamber In.

on crank shaft 32 and a link 34 connected thereto and to a driven disk 35 secured to the cam shaft 28. Disks 33 and 35 have grooves 33' and 35' provided around the circumference adapted to receive a V-shaped belt, to provide an additional driving means for overcoming any starting inertia that may occur due to link 34.

A valve 38 on a stem 39 is urged by a spring 48 to the closed position on its valve seat, thereby closing communication between cylinder 8 and chamber III. This holds valve 38 closed during the main upward stroke of piston 9, so that the mixture in cylinder 8 will be suitably compressed, and the valve will then open when the proper pressure of the mixture is reached. The preheated and precompressed fuel mixture then enters chamber l0, and at the end of the upward stroke of piston 9 the valve 38 is closed by spring 48, and the mixture is then confined in chamber III.

A valve 4| closes the valve opening provided at the upper end of cylinder 6, to stop communication between said cylinder and chamber ID. The

valve is held closed by a spring 42 on a stem 43,

until actuated by an opening mechanism which includes a cam 44 on a cam shaft 45, arranged to actuate a stem 46 adjustably connected to a rod 41 the upper end .of which actuates a lever 48 pivoted at 49 on a bracket 50 provided on the cylinder casing. The free end of this lever 48 bears on valve stem 43 to open valve 4| against the action of spring 42, at the proper time for the admission of the fuel mixture to combustion cylinder 6, thru the operation of suitable timing gear means indicated at 5|, 5|, which are driven by crank shaft 32 in the usual manner.

An exhaust port 54 is provided in the peripheral wall of cylinder 6, and communicates thru a branch conduit 55 with exhaust manifold 58. This port 54 and the operating mechanism for valve 4| are so arranged and timed that the valve starts opening before exhaust port 54 is fully uncovered, thereby assisting the piston in clearing dead gases from said cylinder 6. When the port 54 is closed by piston 1 during its upward stroke, then the combustion cylinder 6 will be filled with a clean fuel mixture fed from storage chamber Ill; thereupon lever 48 raises from stem 43 and spring 42 closes valve 4|. Piston 1 then completes its upward stroke and the highly compressed mixture is flred by the action of a spark plug 51 mounted in the upper end of the cylinder, piston 9 being forced downward until it'clears exhaust port 54 and the burnt gases are ejected into exhaust manifold 56. Relief bosses 58 may also be provided in the Junctions of branches 55 with manifold 56.

A piston rod 6| is pivoted to piston 1 and to a crank 92 on crank shaft 32, and a piston rod 63 is pivoted to piston 9 and to an arm 64 off-set laterally from rod 6|, thereby providing a definite advance of stroke of the supercharging piston 9 relative to the main piston 1, which permits a dependable control of the admission of fuel thru the valves of the two cylinders.

A safety valve is "preferably also provided for This comprises a bypass 65 provided in the top part of cylinder 8, connecting chamber 18 with chamber 24, said bypass being closed by a valve 66 urged by a spring 61. The tension of this spring and the action of the valve being adjustableby manipulating an adjusting nut 69, so that the valve will open to admit fuel mixture from chamber ID to chamber 24 when the pressure in chamber I0 becomes excessive.

Means is provided herein for utilizing the hot exhaust gases from the manifold for preheating and vaporizing the fuel oil and other liquid fuel which is less volatile than gasoline; and for furthermore preheating either of the employed fuel mixtures before entering the precompressing cylinder. This means comprises a preheating casing 1| which encloses the intake manifold, and

which is preferably cast integral therewith; also.

a conduit 12 for conducting the exhaust gases from exhaust manifold 56 to casing 1|.

An oil vaporizing unit 13 is mounted adjacent one end of the casing 1|, and preferably includes several branch tubes 14 extending downwardly and then horizontally and again converging into a pipe 15 which extends to the intake end I9 of the intake manifold 28.

Vaporizing unit 13 receives its fuel oil thru a feed pipe 16 which has an oil preheating jacket 11 interposed therein between its lower discharge end and its upper receiving end 16, the latter leading from an auxiliary feed tank 18 which is for convenience mounted between cylinders 6 and 8 and chamber Ill. The jacket 11 may be. extended part ways or the entire length of exhaust gas conduit 12, as best adapted for its intended use, and altho shown as surrounding the exterior of conduit 12 to form a cylindrical oil receiving chamber thereon, it may be otherwise suitably arranged on or within said conduit. As indicated herein, the upper portion 16' of the oil feed pipe conducts the oil into the upper part of the cylindrical or annular jacket 11, and the lower portion 16 of the pipe conducts the preheated oil from the lower end of the jacket to the vaporizing unit. A feed valve 19 is interposed in upper part 16 and is provided with a lever for operating the valve.

An oil sight feed 8| is interposed in the upper portion 16' of the feed pipe, and a control valve 82 is also interposed in feed pipe 16, provided with an operating crank or lever 83.

A baflle plate 84 is provided in the preheating casing 1| to direct the current of hot exhaust gases closely along the manifold branches 23, as shown in Fig. 2.

The hot exhaust gases are thus utilized first, to preheat the crude oil or heavier fuel fed from tank 18 to the vaporizing unit 13; and then to vaporize the preheated oil in said unit; and finally to heat the fuel mixture, whether crude 011 fuel, or gasoline fuel, or alcohol used alone or combined with either of the other fuels, while such fuel mixture is passing thru the manifold and before entering the precompressing means. The reserve heat of the exhaust gas is thus effectively utilized, instead of being wasted. A conduit 85 at the far end of the casing serves as outlet means for the exhaust gases thus utilized.

Automatic control means is provided for controlling the admission of fuels thru the two feed conduits l6 and 16 to the cylinders, whereby the feeding of one kind of fuel'will be diminished and shut off, while the feeding of the other is increased; so that the fiow of light and volatile fuel, like gasoline, will be stopped when the engine is sufficiently heated, and the flow of the heavier and less volatile fuel, like crude oil, is thereupon fed thru the vaporizing unit 13 to the intake manifold. Alcohol may also be used in this engine, and may be carried in tank 18 in place of the crude oil, or admixed with it.

The control means illustrated herein comprises a thermostatic element 81 mounted in the casing 1|, for actuating the stem 88 extending beyond the casing, arranged to operate a member 89 pivoted on a bracket 99 on the casing. A rod 9! extends from member 89 to an operating lever 92 on a, valve 93 interposed-in gasoline supply pipe l6, for controlling the flow of gasoline to the carburetor. A rod 94 extends from operating member 89 to the lever 88 on oil control valve 92 to control the flow of fuel thru feed pipe 18.

The control means includes a spring 95 con nected to operating member 89 and to an arm 99 on the cas ng, so as to urge and hold gasoline control valve 98 in the open position. and to hold oil control valve 82 in the closed position. unt l the vaporizing unit 13 and the casing 'II are sufficiently heated; whereupon the thermostatic element 81 actuates stem 88 and member 89. so as to close the gasoline control valve 99 and to open the oil control valve 82 for operating the engine with the heavier and less expensive fuel.

Means is provided here n for operating the levers 22 and 89 and thereby the respective control valves 2| and 19 in unison. thru the usual fuel controlling rod provided on the automobile. which is actuated by the usual foot pedal or the like, in the customary manner and as is well understood. This means comprises a rod 91 extending from lever 22 to an arm 98 on a shaft 99 journalled in brackets I mounted in the automobile. and being operated by the usual operating rod 'llll which is actuated thru the foot pedal or the like and is connected to an arm I02 on said shaft 99. A rod I03 extends from arm I02 to an arm IM of a crank lever I95 which is pivoted on a bracket I06 on the engine, and is connected thru a link ill! to lever 80 of oil feed valve 19. By operating the rod IOI, the rods 91 and i3 and I01 will also be operated, to actuate valves 2| and 19 in unison, either to the open or to the closed position. The feeding of the several fuels thru the two feed pipes l6 and I6 is thus readily controlled by the one customary feed member, as

the foot pedal.

Manual control means is also provided, in addition to the automatic control means. for controlling the fiow of the different fuels thru the two feed pipes l6 and 16 to the cylinders. This control means may, for example, comprise an arm H0 extending from operating member 89, and a rod Ill connected to said arm and to a crank arm H2 secured on one end of a shaft H3 which is journalled in bracket means H4 in the automobile. A crank arm H5 extends from the other end of said shaft I I3,'and an operating rod H8 extends from said arm towards the position-of the driver, adapted to beconnected to a suitable hand operated or foot operated member (not shown), as is well understood, whereby to control the two feed valves manually, if preferred or if found necessary.

While I have disclosed certain preferred embodiments of my invention, these are to be taken as illustrative only, as it is capable of change and variation to meet differing conditions and requirements, and I contemplate such modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine having a combustion cylinder and an intake manifold operatively connected therewith and provided with means for conducting fuel mixture thereto, a control valve in said means, a gasoline supply pipe connected with said means, a fuel oil supply pipe connected with said manifold and having oil vaporizing means interposed therein adjacent said manifold, a control valve in said pipe, a lever on each valve, operating means connected with said levers, whereby said valves can be opened and closed together manually, a second valve in said fuel oil pipe and a valve in said gasoline pipe, and means connected with the two last said valves for opening one and closing the other simultaneously.

2. In an internal combustion engine having a combustion cylinder and an intake manifold operatively connected therewith, a carburetor and means connecting it with said manifold, a control valve in said means, a fuel oil supply pipe connected with the manifold and provided with a control valv operating means connecting said control valves whereby to ,open them together and likewise to close them together, a gasoline supply pipe connected to the carburetor and having a valve thereon, vaporizing means and also a second control valve in said fuel oil pipe, and operating means connected with the two last said valves whereby they can be operated together to open one and close the other.

3. In an internal combustion engine having a combustion cylinder and an intake manifold operatively connected therewith, a carburetor and valve equipped means connecting it with the manifold, a valve equipped fuel oil supply pipe connected with the manifold and provided with a vaporizing unit, means for heating said unit with the exhaust gas from the engine, operating means connected with the two valves for opening and closing them together, a gasoline supply pipe connected to the carburetor and having a control valve therein, a second valve in said fuel oil pipe, means utilizing exhaust gas for preheating the oil in said pipe before entering said vaporizing unit, and operating means connected with the two last said valves whereby one valve may be opened while the other valve is being closed in harmony with the heat in the vaporizing unit.

4. The subject matter set forth in claim 3 and wherein the operating means is provided with thermostatic means for automatically actuating it to close the gasoline valve and open the fuel oil valve when the vaporizing unit is sufficiently heated to vaporize the fuel oil, and means for manually actuating said operating means.

5. In an internal combustion engine having a combustion cylinder and an intake manifold operatively connected therewith, a carburetor and valve equipped means connecting it with the manifold, a valve equipped fuel oil supply ripe connected withthe intake end of the manifold and provided with a vaporizing unit, a casing surrounding said unit and manifold, means for conducting exhaust gas from the engine to the casing to heat the unit and also the manifold, means connected with the two valves for opening them together, a gasoline supply pipe connected to the carburetor and having a control valve therein, a second valve in the fuel oil pipe, operating means connected with the two last said valves whereby the gasoline valve may be closed and the oil valve may be opened, thermostatic means in the casing for automatically actuating said operating means and valves when said unit is properly heated, and means connected with the operating means for manually actuating said operating means and valves.

6. In an internal combustion engine having a combustion cylinder and an intake manifold operatively connected therewith, a carburetor and valve equipped means connecting it with the manifold, a valve equipped fuel oil pipe connected and valves.

'7. In an internal vaporize the oil, and means including an arm extending from said member also rod and link means connected therewith for manually operating said member and valves.

8. In an internal combustion engine including a combustion cylinder and an intake manifold operatively connected therewith, a fuel oil pipe means connected with said exhaust gas conducting means and being interposed in said fuel oil pipe, adapted to preheat the oil before entering the vaporizing means, and means for controlling the flow of fuel oil thru said pipe.

9. In an internal combustion engine including a combustion cylinder and an intake manifold operatively connected therewith and provided with a priming fluid supply pipe, a fuel oil supply pipe connected with the manifold and having an oil vaporizing unit therein, a preheating casing enclosing said vaporizing unit and mainfold, a conduit conducting exhaust gas from the cylinder to the casing to flow first over said unit and then over the manifold for vaporizing the fuel oil in the unit and preheating the fuel mixture in the manifold, a, preheating jacket connected with said exhaust conduit and providing a preheating chamber, said chamber being interposed in said fuel oil pipe, adapted topreheat the oil before entering the vaporizing unit, and control means including valves in said supply pipes and means for operating the valves, whereby. the valve in onepipe is opened and in the other pipe is closed.

10. In an internal combustion engine including acombustion cylinder and an intake manioperatively connected therewith and provided with a gasoline supply pipe, a fuel oil supply pipe connected with the manifold and having an oil vaporizing unit therein, a preheating valves.

12. In an internal combustion engine including a combustion cylinder and an intake manifold operatively connected therewith and provided with a gasoline supply pipe, a fuel oil supply pipe cent said casing, said chamber being interposed in said fuel oil pipe, adapted to preheat the fuel oil before it enters the connected with said member for manually operating it and said valves.

14. In an internal combustion engine including a combustion cylinder and an intake manifold operatively connected therewith, a carburetor and valve equipped means connecting it with the manifold, a fuel oil supply pipe connected with the manifold and having an oil vaporizing unit therein, operating means connected with the two valves for manually operating them together, a valve equipped gasoline supply pipe connected with the carburetor, a preheating casing enclosing said vaporizing unit and manifold, a conduit conducting exhaust gas from the cylinder to the casing to vaporize the oil in said unit and preheat the fuel mixture in the manifold, a preheating jacket connected with said exhaust gas conduit and providing a preheating chamber between its walls and the walls of the conduit, said chamber being interposed in the fuel oil pipe, adapted to preheat the fuel oil before it enters the vaporizing unit, a second valve in said fuel oil pipe, control means including thermostatic means connected with the two last said valves for automatically closing the gasoline pipe valve wise closed together, a

and opening the fuel oil pipe valve when the oil in the unit is vaporizing, and means for manually operating the two last said valves.

15. In an internal combustion engine having a combustion cylinder and an intake manifold operatively connected therewith, a carburetor and means connecting it with said manifold, a control valve in said means, a fuel oil supply pipe connected with said manifold and provided with a control valve therein, operating means connecting said two control valves by the operation of which said valves are opened together and likegasoline supply pipe connected to the carburetor and having a valve therein, vaporizing means and a second valve provided in said fueloil pipe, an operating member and means connecting it with the two last said valves whereby they can be operated together to open one and close the other, and thermosensitive means for operating said member and thereby the last said valves automatically to open one and close the other.

PIETRO MANISCALCO. 

